Our boy Matt Johnson is retiring

[Dave_in-NC]

Theses threads just make a person shake their head.

 

[jazzcat22]

I can still see the Matt Johnson references throughout the next few years. When a player is injured, especially a hamstring. As they were with Miles Austin. Just like the trade jokes with Dexter Coakley.
Time to retire all of that stuff too. But sometimes just can't be helped either...especially if the humor is used right....

 

[1fisher]

Hahahahahahah

What was the highest level you competed on?

 

[Chuck 54]

Those legs must be in pretty bad shape to retire instead of going for the new FA combine and looking for a second chance.

 

[popp1234]

Keep your head up, kid. You had a chance to live your dream and gave it your best. Sometimes, it's just not meant to be, unfortunately.

 

[Bluestang]

Matt Johnson never proved anything at the NFL level.

The coaches always had glowing praise for him but we never saw anything remotely capable on the field because he kept getting hurt.

But because the coaches praised Matt, some fans took upon themselves to protect the player from criticism especially since the team used their 4th round draft pick to select him.

The Cowboys have a proven track record to go out on a limb on 4th round picks, and that is what happened in Matt's case.

 

[TheCount]

Matt Johnson never proved anything at the NFL level.

The coaches always had glowing praise for him but we never saw anything remotely capable on the field because he kept getting hurt.

But because the coaches praised Matt, some fans took upon themselves to protect the player from criticism especially since the team used their 4th round draft pick to select him.

The Cowboys have a proven track record to go out on a limb on 4th round picks, and that is what happened in Matt's case.

Pretty sure this has already been rehashed to death at this point.

 

[xwalker]

I personally don't think his body betrayed him. I think it's more of an issue with weight training these days. Guys get so jacked up and do so much heavy lifting and are told that they can do it and this particular trainer will be able to keep them healthy and the other trainers that say you're getting too big don't know what they are talking about. Then they start to see gains in the short term, but it eventually catches up to them.

I remember when David Boston was playing in the NFL and the Cardinals trainers told him that he was getting too big and that the muscle mass was going to put too much stress on his hamstrings and ankles. His 'rogue' trainer kept saying that they didn't know what they were talking about and how this was the way to train. And then Boston started suffering ankle, hamstring and knee injuries.

As we've seen with hamstrings, injure it once and now you're more likely to do it again. Johnson got jacked up beyond belief and his hamstrings couldn't handle it. Sucks, man.

YR

Yes, I think that he over-trained.

I thought when they cut him, that he should just take this off-season and get away from weight training. I saw a tweet from him awhile back about how hard he was working and it referenced weight lifting. I figured at that point that he probably wouldn't get healthy because he just didn't understand his problem.

 

[Idgit]

In requiem.



Nothing at all wrong for fans hoping a small school high-potential player that the team was excited about develops. The guy just couldn't even stay on the field long enough to see if he would have earned his shot or not.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I talked a lot of crap on this guy like most fans did. But I was an athlete so I can imagine how he feels. He never got a chance to show what he had. To make it that far and this happen is terrible. I wish him luck.

 

[The Quest for Six]

That's harsh.

BUT TRUE!

 

[guag]

Did he ever play at all?

I think he appeared in part of one preseason game, I'm thinking it was a Miami game.

 

[Teague31]

Shame. Was pulling for him. Wouldn't take much to supplant our starting safeties at this point

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I personally don't think his body betrayed him. I think it's more of an issue with weight training these days. Guys get so jacked up and do so much heavy lifting and are told that they can do it and this particular trainer will be able to keep them healthy and the other trainers that say you're getting too big don't know what they are talking about. Then they start to see gains in the short term, but it eventually catches up to them.

I remember when David Boston was playing in the NFL and the Cardinals trainers told him that he was getting too big and that the muscle mass was going to put too much stress on his hamstrings and ankles. His 'rogue' trainer kept saying that they didn't know what they were talking about and how this was the way to train. And then Boston started suffering ankle, hamstring and knee injuries.

As we've seen with hamstrings, injure it once and now you're more likely to do it again. Johnson got jacked up beyond belief and his hamstrings couldn't handle it. Sucks, man.





YR

What you just described is his body not handling the training. Granted it's more detailed than what Abe said but what I see you writing hear seems to say the exact same thing. Whether or not the advice was bad -you don't know who his trainers are- is independent of whether or not his body broke down. Outside of that you have a chicken/egg temporal argument.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Feel bad for him and bad for the Cowboys.

I thought he could have been something had he stayed healthy.

Crazy how in a world class strength and nutrition regime that he couldn't get his legs to cooperate. At least for a season.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

What you just described is his body not handling the training. Granted it's more detailed than what Abe said but what I see you writing hear seems to say the exact same thing. Whether or not the advice was bad -you don't know who his trainers are- is independent of whether or not his body broke down. Outside of that you have a chicken/egg temporal argument.

I would agree with the chicken/egg thing if the team and Johnson hand not both said that he was *way* too big his rookie year.





YR

 

[phildadon86]

Don't be a $&#&. Dude worked. His body just betrayed him

Sounds like Lee?

 

[The Natural]

Never got a chance to get my jersey

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I agree with those wondering what could have been with Johnson. During OTA's and training camp, the coaches were really impressed with how quickly he grasped the defense and his assignments; especially considering that he came from a small school. The guy really deserved better.

I hope he does well with whatever he chooses to do from here on out.

 

[manster4ever]

Much ado about nothing. Goodbye China Doll...we hardly knew ya.